In 2018, masters of Welsh folk Calan marked their Tenth Anniversary with Deg |10, a combination of their favourite tracks along with 3 brand new songs, 2 live recordings and 2 brand new remixes of previous singles Apparition and Synnwyr Solomon. In those ten years, they have clearly earned a reputation for giving a fresh and contemporary sound to traditional Welsh music.
Having picked up Best Band at the inaugural, 2019, Welsh Folk Awards, it’s fair to say that we’re definitely ready for some new tunes. The good news is that Calan are to release their 5th album Kistvaen on 3 April which will co-inside with a one-off performance at St David’s Hall in Cardiff, with the BBC National Orchestra.
For those wondering, a kistvaen or cistvaen is a tomb or burial chamber formed from flat stone slabs in a box-like shape. If set completely underground, it may be covered by a tumulus. The word is derived from the Welsh cist (chest) and maen (stone).
While Calan are currently riding the wave of a country discovering their heritage of traditional music, their high-powered contemporary twist and energetic stage presence is also giving their Celtic cousins outside the Welsh Borders a damn good run for their money. Don’t miss their UK tour, see dates below.
We have no new music to share with you just yet but here they are from 2018 showing off their multi-talents…
UK Dates – April 2020
Friday 3 Caernarfon, Galeri Theatr
Saturday 4 Swansea, Theatr Taliesin
Sunday 5 Alfriston, The Old Chapel
Monday 6 Southampton, Chapel Sessions,
Tuesday 7 Kingskerswell, Parish Church
Wednesday 8 South Molton, George Hotel
Thursday 9 Dorchester, Dorchester Arts
Friday 10 Oxford, Hollywell Music Room
Saturday 11 Bristol, The Folk House
Tuesday 14 Maldon, Essex, Maldon Town Hall
Wednesday 15 Bury St Edmunds, The Apex
Thursday 16 London, Kings Place
Friday Bury, The Met
Saturday 18 Richmond, Reeth, The Memorial Hall
Monday 20 Edinburgh, Traverse Theatre
Thursday 23 Langholm, The Buccleuch Centre
Friday 24 Morecambe, The Platform
Saturday 25 Wolverhampton, The Newhampton Arts Centre
Sunday 26 Sheffield, The Broadwalk Live
Wednesday 29, Canterbury, Gulbenkian Theatre
Thursday 30, Brecon, Theatr Brycheniog
Friday 1 (May), Cardiff, The Gate